Comments on: Murder of a Fly Rod: Till Death Did Us Part http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Fly Fishing ~ Living Life Outdoors Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:01:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nerveracker http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Nerveracker Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:22:54 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-219 As most of you know, I have recently been hooked on my new rod. My matte finish 6wt Echo Carbon. If you've read another of my replies, you know my very first fly rod was a Scientific Angler's 5/6 wt that I bought at Wal-Mart. Now, here's the story as to why I have my beautiful, new, Echo Carbon fly rod. And, here's the "rest of the story". Where to start.... hmmm.... At this point, I had only been fly fishing for @ 2 months. Back in mid October (2009), the water had cooled, the leaves were turning, and there was a distinct chill in the air here in Oregon. The October Caddis was in its full swing (but very sparse at least in the upper section of the McKenzie River where I was fishing). The other hatches were BWO (Blue Winged Olive) which wasn't very impressive at least this day, and a few small caddis flies that were so sparse one couldn't call it a hatch and the old faithful midge hatch. I had put up the dry fly box and tied on a #8 tungsten bead October Caddis Pupae about 7 ft under a thingamabobber on a 4x leader/tippet. Having very little experience with nymph fishing up until this point, I wasn't terribly sure what exactly I was doing except for dead drift. Mend up, get your fly line above your indicator and let it float. Were the words that I kept hearing over and over in my head. Hung in the tree behind me... DAMMIT(and several other profanities)... you retard! watch your backcast! Out of the water, tie on more tippet, and new fly. Ok! Watch the tree.. the fly landed perfectly in the water, mend.. mend.. PERFECT!!!! At this moment, the world stood still. Everything slowed down and nearly stopped. My thingamabobber dropped out of sight, and I set the hook! My rod stopped dead! Then, there was the headshake. Woah, a good fish, I thought. Then everything changed. All of a sudden, for some reason, line began peeling off my reel so terribly fast I didn't know what to do! This fish was making a blazing run down the river! 90+ feet later, well into my backing. My thoughts were to make line and get my fly line back on the reel. Reeling as much as I dared, not to put too much strain on the 4x tippet, (that had 2 blood knots in it already) I made up enough to get the fly line back on the reel, and then some! It was getting close, and I could feel the strain of the line and the rod under the pressure of this fish. Again, a reel melting run! Could it be? Up to this point I'd only read about this type of behavior and it could only be one fish! Steelhead!!! After about 20 grueling minutes of give and take, I get my very first steelhead up to my feet. She was between 6-8 lbs @ 26" long. Just as I was reaching into the water to tail her, the tippet snapped under the pressure. I was shaking like a leaf holding on by its last fibers in late October in a stiff breeze. This was the first time I had been so close to that big of a trout in my life! Fast forward a couple hours and the move to a different fishing hole. Again, much the same as the first time! This time a #8 Prince Nymph (as I'd lost all my October Caddis Pupae). The second time today? Are you kidding me??? NO WAY!!!! Two big fish in one day? There's no way! Nobody has this much luck! Well, it seems that the fishing gods were smiling upon me this day! This time after about 30 minutes of up and down the river, (new leader this time and only 1 blood knot, as I lengthened my leader to @ 12ft) I landed the biggest trout/steelhead I'd ever laid eyes on. She was between 30-32" and @ 12 lbs. The sense of joy and elation of landing a fish that big, on a 5/6 wt on 4x tippet and still a total noob with a fly rod was terribly overwhelming. I called my friends, family, and everybody else I could think of to tell them about my fish on this day. Fast forward a week in time. Yet another steelhead takes my trout fly. This one breaks off after 15 or so minutes. Fast forward another week, and another big steelhead, almost landed on my 5/6 wt So, skipping ahead in the story. After several big fish, my noobie rod started to succumb to the strain and the ferrules began splitting and cracking between the 2nd and 3rd piece of the rod (right in the middle where the backbone of the rod starts). Now mostly retired, my noobie rod stays in the case, and in the fish-mobile. But, she's never too far away from the action. That 80 bucks was the best 80 bucks I've EVER spent. Oh, Rebecca, I'm in love with my new Echo Carbon rod! Try em out. Superb rods for the money. Really good value! Not to mention the lifetime warranty! See ya'll on the water! Dave As most of you know, I have recently been hooked on my new rod. My matte finish 6wt Echo Carbon. If you’ve read another of my replies, you know my very first fly rod was a Scientific Angler’s 5/6 wt that I bought at Wal-Mart. Now, here’s the story as to why I have my beautiful, new, Echo Carbon fly rod. And, here’s the “rest of the story”.
Where to start…. hmmm….
At this point, I had only been fly fishing for @ 2 months. Back in mid October (2009), the water had cooled, the leaves were turning, and there was a distinct chill in the air here in Oregon. The October Caddis was in its full swing (but very sparse at least in the upper section of the McKenzie River where I was fishing). The other hatches were BWO (Blue Winged Olive) which wasn’t very impressive at least this day, and a few small caddis flies that were so sparse one couldn’t call it a hatch and the old faithful midge hatch. I had put up the dry fly box and tied on a #8 tungsten bead October Caddis Pupae about 7 ft under a thingamabobber on a 4x leader/tippet.
Having very little experience with nymph fishing up until this point, I wasn’t terribly sure what exactly I was doing except for dead drift. Mend up, get your fly line above your indicator and let it float. Were the words that I kept hearing over and over in my head.
Hung in the tree behind me… DAMMIT(and several other profanities)… you retard! watch your backcast! Out of the water, tie on more tippet, and new fly.
Ok! Watch the tree.. the fly landed perfectly in the water, mend.. mend.. PERFECT!!!! At this moment, the world stood still. Everything slowed down and nearly stopped. My thingamabobber dropped out of sight, and I set the hook! My rod stopped dead! Then, there was the headshake. Woah, a good fish, I thought. Then everything changed. All of a sudden, for some reason, line began peeling off my reel so terribly fast I didn’t know what to do! This fish was making a blazing run down the river! 90+ feet later, well into my backing. My thoughts were to make line and get my fly line back on the reel. Reeling as much as I dared, not to put too much strain on the 4x tippet, (that had 2 blood knots in it already) I made up enough to get the fly line back on the reel, and then some! It was getting close, and I could feel the strain of the line and the rod under the pressure of this fish. Again, a reel melting run!
Could it be? Up to this point I’d only read about this type of behavior and it could only be one fish! Steelhead!!! After about 20 grueling minutes of give and take, I get my very first steelhead up to my feet. She was between 6-8 lbs @ 26″ long. Just as I was reaching into the water to tail her, the tippet snapped under the pressure. I was shaking like a leaf holding on by its last fibers in late October in a stiff breeze. This was the first time I had been so close to that big of a trout in my life!
Fast forward a couple hours and the move to a different fishing hole. Again, much the same as the first time! This time a #8 Prince Nymph (as I’d lost all my October Caddis Pupae). The second time today? Are you kidding me??? NO WAY!!!! Two big fish in one day? There’s no way! Nobody has this much luck! Well, it seems that the fishing gods were smiling upon me this day! This time after about 30 minutes of up and down the river, (new leader this time and only 1 blood knot, as I lengthened my leader to @ 12ft) I landed the biggest trout/steelhead I’d ever laid eyes on. She was between 30-32″ and @ 12 lbs.
The sense of joy and elation of landing a fish that big, on a 5/6 wt on 4x tippet and still a total noob with a fly rod was terribly overwhelming. I called my friends, family, and everybody else I could think of to tell them about my fish on this day.
Fast forward a week in time. Yet another steelhead takes my trout fly. This one breaks off after 15 or so minutes.
Fast forward another week, and another big steelhead, almost landed on my 5/6 wt
So, skipping ahead in the story. After several big fish, my noobie rod started to succumb to the strain and the ferrules began splitting and cracking between the 2nd and 3rd piece of the rod (right in the middle where the backbone of the rod starts). Now mostly retired, my noobie rod stays in the case, and in the fish-mobile. But, she’s never too far away from the action. That 80 bucks was the best 80 bucks I’ve EVER spent.
Oh, Rebecca, I’m in love with my new Echo Carbon rod! Try em out. Superb rods for the money. Really good value! Not to mention the lifetime warranty!
See ya’ll on the water!

Dave

]]> By: maryam http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-217 maryam Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:08:44 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-217 Rebecca~I really enjoyed this story. I was gifted with my first fly rod this summer and I LOVE IT!! Although I haven't gone fishing for over a month now, I took it out on Thanksgiving and put it all together....just to feel it in my hand again. I have yet to catch any big fish on it yet, but a few little ones were enough to wet my appetitite. Thanks for sharing, good luck in your quest for a new rod. maryam Rebecca~I really enjoyed this story. I was gifted with my first fly rod this summer and I LOVE IT!! Although I haven’t gone fishing for over a month now, I took it out on Thanksgiving and put it all together….just to feel it in my hand again. I have yet to catch any big fish on it yet, but a few little ones were enough to wet my appetitite.

Thanks for sharing, good luck in your quest for a new rod.

maryam

]]> By: Kaitlyn http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Kaitlyn Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:04:02 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-162 I remember hearing this story many times. It is true that you are never going to let the breaker of the rod live it down. Good job. ~Kaitlyn I remember hearing this story many times. It is true that you are never going to let the breaker of the rod live it down. Good job.
~Kaitlyn

]]> By: Dave L. http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Dave L. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:31:12 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-147 Ok, I'm not sure if I loved my first fly rod THAT much, but it was pretty close. When it broke I was pretty upset. I've had a hard time finding one that felt just the same, but the good news is you get to try out new fly rods and waste alot of money in the meantime. I really enjoyed this story, you write good. Ok, I’m not sure if I loved my first fly rod THAT much, but it was pretty close. When it broke I was pretty upset. I’ve had a hard time finding one that felt just the same, but the good news is you get to try out new fly rods and waste alot of money in the meantime.
I really enjoyed this story, you write good.

]]> By: Fshing Jones http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Fshing Jones Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:35:52 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-131 I'd be fine if my first rod, a Cortland Starter Kit, broke somehow while in retirement in my closet. The new rod I stepped on while landing a fish this summer, that kills me. I’d be fine if my first rod, a Cortland Starter Kit, broke somehow while in retirement in my closet. The new rod I stepped on while landing a fish this summer, that kills me.

]]> By: Zach Lazzari http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Zach Lazzari Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:02:22 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-128 Wow, that is quite a relationship. I manage to break 2-3 rods a year and do not think twice about it. Maybe I should try bonding with my gear. Wow, that is quite a relationship. I manage to break 2-3 rods a year and do not think twice about it. Maybe I should try bonding with my gear.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Rebecca Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:30:18 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-127 Kirk, Rob, Clif, Thank you for your words of sympathy and understanding. Maybe someday I will find my new Red, until then, I guess I finally get to test out all the racy models out there. Clif...if a time comes when I finally decide to bury the bones of Red, I'm so using your comment in the eulogy :) Kirk, Rob, Clif,
Thank you for your words of sympathy and understanding. Maybe someday I will find my new Red, until then, I guess I finally get to test out all the racy models out there.

Clif…if a time comes when I finally decide to bury the bones of Red, I’m so using your comment in the eulogy :)

]]> By: Kirk http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Kirk Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:27:46 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-126 Damn, Clif- that was poetic as all git out. Almost brought a tear to my eyelet. Damn, Clif- that was poetic as all git out. Almost brought a tear to my eyelet.

]]> By: Clif http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Clif Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:05:38 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-125 I can only imagine poor Red's eyelets searching frantically for your face amongst strangers as cold death ran though his mangled tip and tightened it's grip on his cork...a single water droplet falling from his hook keep. RIP Red, you will be missed. I can only imagine poor Red’s eyelets searching frantically for your face amongst strangers as cold death ran though his mangled tip and tightened it’s grip on his cork…a single water droplet falling from his hook keep.

RIP Red, you will be missed.

]]> By: Rob http://www.outdooress.com/2009/11/murder-of-a-fly-rod-till-death-did-us-part/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Rob Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:46:41 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=502#comment-124 This is a great post! Reading your stuff is very enjoyable. I love my gear. Being a saltwater angler, I'm always careful to rinse and wipe my rod, guides and reel after every use. The reels get a regular tune up, cleaning and lube job too. Why is it that I have a graveyard, as it were, of fly fishing gear....and more importantly, why do I hang on to it? The busted rods and stripped reels aren't any good for anything except humor (like the time I packed my rod in the dark and took a busted one). The story will be coming out soon.... Once again, a very enjoyable read.... Rob This is a great post! Reading your stuff is very enjoyable.

I love my gear. Being a saltwater angler, I’m always careful to rinse and wipe my rod, guides and reel after every use. The reels get a regular tune up, cleaning and lube job too.

Why is it that I have a graveyard, as it were, of fly fishing gear….and more importantly, why do I hang on to it? The busted rods and stripped reels aren’t any good for anything except humor (like the time I packed my rod in the dark and took a busted one). The story will be coming out soon….

Once again, a very enjoyable read….

Rob

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